7. In some places the situation was worse than in others. Slovyansk city (normal population about 130,000 which by early July was down to less than half) in northern Donetsk region was, since April, the stronghold and main base of operations for the armed groups. The residents were particularly badly affected due to the almost constant shelling and fighting there for weeks as the armed groups and Government forces clashed. 8. The professionalization of the armed groups fighting in the east has become openly acknowledged and self-evident. Their leadership, many of whom are nationals of the Russian Federation, are trained and hardened by experience in conflicts, such as in Chechnya (Russian Federation) and Transnistria (Republic of Moldova). What was previously something of a rag tag of armed groups with different loyalties and agendas is now being brought together under the central command of these men. Heavy weaponry including mortars and anti-aircraft guns, tanks and armoured vehicles, and landmines are now being used by them. As the ‘Minister of Defence’ of the armed groups told the HRMMU on 8 July: “we are in the state of war”. 9. The armed groups from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions have themselves joined forces in a self-proclaimed ‘People’s Republic of Novorossia’. They claimed to have adopted a constitution and to be making other preparations for establishing an unlawful selfgovernment. 10. Throughout the reporting period, the Government of Ukraine pursued its “anti-terrorist” operation (ATO), under the direction of the State Security Service, as it sought to regain control of territory in the eastern regions. This security operation has intensified in the past two weeks involving the use of heavy weaponry and airstrikes. Following the announcement of a Peace Plan by the President of Ukraine on 20 June, the Government implemented a 10-day ceasefire but this was reportedly breached at least 108 times, killing 27 Ukrainian soldiers and wounding 69. At least 9 people not involved in the fighting were also killed, including one eleven month old child. After the ceasefire ended on 30 June, the Government mounted an intense offensive, recapturing territory including the main strategic base of the armed groups in the Donetsk region - the city of Slovyansk - and stating it had regained control of the Ukraine-Russian Federation border areas that had previously been under the control of the armed groups. But the price was high with at least 30 civilian deaths, many wounded, and a great deal of destruction to the recaptured villages, towns and cities. And the control was tenuous, as evidenced by the continuing attacks by armed groups that have killed and wounded soldiers and many civilians. Neither side expressed any public willingness to come together to discuss a negotiated peace. The level of rhetoric and propaganda escalated, with allegations of deliberately targeting civilians. The President, however, stated his readiness to restore a ceasefire upon the following conditions: (i) all hostages should be released; (ii) Governmental control over the border with the Russian Federation should be restored; and (iii) armed groups should be disarmed. 11. The protection of civilians in the eastern regions has been of increasing concern. On 4 July, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern about the safety of people caught in the crossfire between Ukrainian forces and the armed groups, and reminded all those involved in the fighting of the need to scrupulously respect residents’ fundamental rights, including the right to life. The Government appeared to take notice and, on 8 July, said it would give special attention to the prevention of civilian losses and would not bombard the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, to which the armed groups had retreated. Instead it would blockade those cities in an effort to force the armed groups to surrender. A leader of one of the armed groups said it was prepared to start a full-scale guerrilla war. 134 | P a g e